Goulburn Broken CMA’s Sue Kosch and BIIK Cultural Land Management’s Kysan Notting with barred galaxias.
An endangered fish found only in the Goulburn-Broken Catchment is showing strong signs of recovery, with recent surveys counting 181 barred galaxias across seven mountain stream sites.
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The barred galaxias is a small, distinctive orange fish with vertical black stripes, growing to between 7 and 15 centimetres.
It has been pushed to the brink of extinction by brown and rainbow trout, which prey on the species and compete for food.
Goulburn-Broken CMA river health project officer Sue Kosch said the fish now survived only in isolated pockets of trout-free water near Mt Buller, Mt Stirling, Woods Point, Marysville and between Narbethong and Mount Disappointment.
“Populations of this threatened fish are quickly eliminated from waterways once trout invade,” Ms Kosch said.
Barred Galaxias are facing extinction from predation and competition from brown and rainbow trout.
The fish's survival depends on barriers, natural or constructed, that stop trout moving upstream.
In 2018, Goulburn-Broken CMA funded a concrete barrier on Perkins Creek near Woods Point for that purpose.
A May survey by Arthur Rylah Institute scientists found the barrier working as intended, with 24 barred galaxias recorded upstream and no trout present.
Ms Kosch said the results showed what was possible when the species could be separated from predators.
“It shows that when these fish can be separated from the trout, they are able to survive,” she said.
The Perkins Creek fish barrier near Woods Point
All barriers assessed were found to be in good condition.
Taungurung Land and Waters Council BIIK Cultural Land Management field staff assisted the survey, contributing local knowledge alongside the ARI team.
“Protecting these fish is a result of team work. It’s great to work with ARI and BIIK to achieve this promising outcome,” Ms Kosch said.
